Bullet-Proof Skin
Institute (Gavin Rossdale) Lyrics


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Cold to disappear but
I missed you more these days
And all these tatooed angels
Have brought me back today

I'm a wasted boy, empty master plan
Been stuck inside this lonely room again
You get paranoid, see vultures circling
Want to sleep with them down comes the final curtain
Until, you come, into your soul again
We'll be the worst of best friends
Does it feel like Christmas in Hollywood?
Does it feel like we're ever going to make it home?

Burn, baby burn
Strung out on a wire
Heart in a cage
You're so full of desire
You need, fast hands
To deal with all the liars
So don't burn baby burn baby burn

It's a waste of joy, I can hardly stand
Been looking for the ramp for my escape
And of animals, so close to perfect
They're the only ones who seem to know their heart
Does it feel like Christmas in Hollywood?
Does it feel like we could ever come undone?

Burn, baby burn
Strung out on a wire
Heart in a cage
You're so full of desire
You need, fast hands
To deal with all the liars
Bullet-proof skin to keep you alive
Burn, baby burn
Strung out on a wire
So don't burn baby burn baby burn

I can't hold you, I can't hold you, I can't hold you
To lose you is to never love again
To lose you is to never love again
To lose you is to never love again
To lose you

Burn, baby burn
Strung out on a wire
Heart in a cage
You're so full of desire
You need, fast hands
To deal with all the liars
Bullet-proof skin to keep you alive
Burn, baby burn
Strung out on a wire
So don't burn baby burn baby burn





I can't hold you, I can't hold you
I can't hold you, I can't hold you

Overall Meaning

The song "Bullet-proof Skin" by Institute is a powerful and emotional track that speaks of a person's struggles with their own demons and the search for inner peace. The opening verse speaks of the singer missing someone terribly and feeling more alone than ever before. They see tattooed angels and feel as if they are brought back to life by them. The second verse talks about the singer's feelings of being stuck in a lonely room, wanting to escape but feeling paranoid and seeing vultures circling. They feel as if they are in a constant state of fear and anxiety, waiting for the final curtain to fall.


The chorus speaks of burning out, feeling strung out on a wire, and having a heart in a cage. The singer talks about needing fast hands to deal with all the liars and how they wish to have bullet-proof skin to keep them alive. The final verse talks about the fear of losing someone and how that would mean never loving again. The repetition of the phrase "I can't hold you" makes it seem as if the singer is powerless and unable to control their own life.


Overall, the song seems to be about the difficult process of coming to terms with one's own limitations and struggles. It speaks of the fear of failure and the desire for a better life. The lyrics are dark and powerful, and the music is intense and emotional.


Line by Line Meaning

Cold to disappear but
Even though I tried to push you away, I miss you even more now


I missed you more these days
My longing for you grows stronger as time goes by


And all these tattooed angels
My friends who seem tough and cool on the outside


Have brought me back today
But they have also brought me to a familiar place of pain and sadness


I'm a wasted boy, empty master plan
I feel like a directionless failure, with no clear purpose in life


Been stuck inside this lonely room again
I've been isolating myself from the world and drowning in my own despair


You get paranoid, see vultures circling
I become increasingly paranoid as I imagine people and situations around me as threatening


Want to sleep with them down comes the final curtain
I start to contemplate my own mortality and contemplate that death may be the only escape from my pain


Until, you come, into your soul again
Only when I am with you, do I feel like I am truly alive and whole again


We'll be the worst of best friends
Our relationship may not be perfect, but we are still the closest of companions


Does it feel like Christmas in Hollywood?
Do our dreams of happiness and success seem as unattainable as the wonder and magic of Christmas in Hollywood?


Does it feel like we're ever going to make it home?
Will we ever find a sense of belonging and contentment in our lives?


Burn, baby burn
We are consumed by our intense emotions and passions


Strung out on a wire
We are struggling to maintain balance and control in our lives


Heart in a cage
Our hearts feel trapped and constrained, unable to find the freedom and love we crave


You're so full of desire
We are consumed by our longing for something more in life


You need, fast hands
You must be quick to act and react in order to survive in this chaotic world


To deal with all the liars
You need to be sharp and discerning to navigate through the deceit and manipulation around you


Bullet-proof skin to keep you alive
You must develop a thick skin to protect yourself from the pain and hurt of life


I can't hold you, I can't hold you
I am powerless to keep you close and keep you from leaving


To lose you is to never love again
If I lose you, I will be too broken to ever open my heart again


So don't burn baby burn baby burn
Let us try to hold on to what we have and not let it be consumed by the flames of our passion and fear




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GAVIN ROSSDALE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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